Welcome to an 'inch of difference'.
"This inch in which we live." Richard Neville, Oz, 1971.

"If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, go home from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or your arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains set lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen."

Thursday, 28 July 2011

A Mixed Bag

Let the slave grinding at the mill run out into the field,Let him look up into the heavens and laugh in the bright air;Let the inchained soul, shut up in darkness and in sighing,Whose face has never seen a smile in thirty weary years,Rise and look out; his chains are loose, his dungeon doors are open...

I was going to do some ever-so erudite post on perception, manipulation and the gulf between rulers and ruled but I'm exhausted just considering all the aspects and, besides, I've written plenty of not-so erudite posts about it in the past. Here instead is just a ragbag of thoughts:

The onslaught of the acronym (or OOTA, as I prefer to call it) shows no sign of slowing down. Here's another one for our growing collection - SPARDA. SPARDA is Shaping Perceptions and Attitudes to Realise the Diversity Advantage and is a joint programme from the EU and the Council of Europe. Ever felt like a lab-rat?

"This initial poll serves as a barometer upon which cities can base their information campaigns, running towards the end of 2012. The second surveys, to be carried out after the end of the campaigns, will provide an idea of how much the campaigns have influenced the perceptions of the local communities towards migrants."

All this is very timely, coinciding as it does with EU Commissioner for Home Affairs, Cecilia Malmstrom's latest blog post, Radicalisation on the Agenda.. The EU is launching an anti-radicalisation network in September which will "counter every form of radicalisation – be it religious, political, and ideological."

Turkey's EU Minister, Egemen Bagis, thinks he has the answer to nascent anti-immigrant feeling in Europe:

“The seeds of hatred and racism that have triggered these attacks can be destroyed by Turkey’s EU membership..." Describing the EU as an institution of peace, tolerance and dialogue, Bagis also said the union would miss its chance for peace without Turkey’s membership.

Bagis isn't the only one to think that expanding borders and more immigration is the way forward. After Euro-Med there are now proposals for a Euro-Africa. This ignores the fact that the EU has already opened Job Centres in parts of Africa, but THIS article reports as if it's only a recent development. Even the BBC reported it as long ago as 2008. All in the name of peace, love and a globalised economy.

Just as with problems that the EU throws up where the answer is "more EU please", the answer to immigration problems is deemed to be "more immigration". There are no dissenting voices within the EU, no checks and balances, no opposition. No doubt some will cite the debates which take place amongst elected MEPs as evidence of democracy but the Commission need pay no attention to any outcome, even assuming it's contrary to the Commission's proposals, and that's a big assumption. The Commission need only take account and consider the views of MEPs - and then totally ignore them.

The so-called Marxist School of Critical Theory and its helpmates and enablers in Common Purpose are spread through our political institutions (in which I include the police), the local authorities and the quangos, like a rampant cancer. Only a society strong in its own identity could not be influenced by such concerted subversive attacks - hence all the questions about 'Englishness' or 'Britishness' and the media attacks on 'fat, feckless, workshy, drink-sodden, drug-taking British couch potatoes' - all intended to replace certainty and assuredness with doubt.

Hammy died; Sammy passed away from malnutrition; Suki was resurrected. Lucky ran away. Here's Lucky's brother, Chucky:"What is this life if, full of care, we have no time to stand and stare? Click my wheel to feed me.

"Harmlessly passing your time in the grassland away;Only dimly aware of a certain unease in the air.You'd better watch out!There may be dogs aboutI looked over Jordan, and I've seenThings are not what they seem.

That's what you get for pretending the danger's not real.Meek and obedient you follow the leaderDown well trodden corridors into the valley of steel.What a surprise!A look of terminal shock in your eyes.Now things are really what they seem.No, this is not a bad dream.

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not wantHe makes me down to lieThrough pastures green He leadeth me the silent waters by.With bright knives He releaseth my soul.He maketh me to hang on hooks in high places.He converteth me to lamb cutlets,For lo, He hath great power, and great hunger.When cometh the day we lowly ones,Through quiet reflection, and great dedicationMaster the art of Judo,Lo, we shall rise up,And then we'll make the bugger's eyes water.

Bleating and babbling we fell on his neck with a scream.Wave upon wave of demented avengersMarch cheerfully out of obscurity into the dream.

Have you heard the news?The dogs are dead!You better stay homeAnd do as you're told.Get out of the road if you want to grow old."

Reform and revolutionary change that is undertaken without the explicit consent of the people, can only be maintained through force and repression.